Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jeremy Corbyn this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 30 · Ministry of Defence
How many times United States aircraft taking off from Diego Garcia have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations. Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.
How many times United States aircraft taking off from bases in the United Kingdom have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations. Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.
If he will review the 2020 military cooperation agreement with Israel in the context of that country’s role in the war on Iran since 28 February 2026.
A UK-Israel military cooperation agreement, which incorporates a range of defence engagement activity, was signed in December 2020. Whilst the UK Ministry of Defence regularly reviews cooperation with Israel, the agreement remains extant.
Whether he has made an estimate of the number of civilian casualties caused by United States airstrikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies and ships in the Strait of Hormuz.For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.
Which agreements between the United States and the United Kingdom govern the presence of US National Security Agency personnel in Britain.
The UK–US intelligence relationship is one of the closest in the world, built primarily on the longstanding UK-USA Agreement and our Five Eyes partnership, reinforced by our network of bilateral defence and security arrangements. Any details on US intelligence personnel are classified. It is government practice not to disclose any information regarding personnel working in intelligence roles to protect national security.
What estimate his Department has made of the local economic benefits to the United Kingdom of the United States military bases in Britain.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not formally evaluated the economic benefit to the UK of the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) and therefore a verified financial estimate is not available. The continued presence of United States military forces in the UK forms an important part of the United States’ on-going wider commitment to NATO and the security of Europe. The influence a USVF base will have on the economic development of nearby communities will depend on its location, base size, operational tempo and local context. The presence of a USVF base in the community creates both direct and indirect employment, and opportunities for local businesses and landlords to make commercial arrangements with members of the visiting forces.
Whether financial benefits accrue to the United Kingdom from the US War Department’s ownership of sites such as land and buildings in Britain.
The continued presence of United States (US) military forces in the UK forms an important part of the US’ on-going wider commitment to NATO and the security of Europe. The US Department of War (DoW) does not own military sites, military land, or military buildings in Britian and therefore there is no associated financial benefit. In accordance with the 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement, the US DoW is responsible for bearing the cost for the operational running of the bases it occupies such as utilities, as well as any development in support of its forces at those locations.
Whether it is his Department's policy not to provide information on the number of United States military personnel present at each of its bases in the United Kingdom.
There is no specific policy that requires this Government to withhold the number of United States personnel based within the UK, however as previously advised we are withholding this information in the interest of personal security. The number of United States personnel at United States Visiting Forces (USVF) sites was disclosed in 2024, however, we are in a new era of threat that remains more serious and less predictable.
If he will list the sites the US War Department owns in the United Kingdom.
I can confirm the US War Department does not own any Defence sites in the United Kingdom.
What the role is of RAF Oakhanger; how many of his Department’s personnel are stationed there; and who owns the site.
RAF Oakhanger is a Ministry of Defence owned satellite ground station, which is contractor managed. It monitors and controls the UK's constellation of military communication satellites. There are no Defence staff stationed at RAF Oakhanger.
What the legislative basis is for the United States' use of force from bases in the United Kingdom being subject to joint decision-making.
Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. This includes engagement with US partners on the nature and purpose of their activity. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.
Whether there are confidential arrangements in place governing the US military's use of bases in the UK in addition to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951, the Visiting Forces Act 1952 and UK/US Cost Sharing Agreement 1973.
A range of formal agreements govern the US military's use of bases in the UK including the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951, the Visiting Forces Act 1952, and UK-US Cost Sharing Agreement 1973. Classified agreements also apply in some areas, reflecting the sensitive nature of specific operational activities conducted at these facilities.
Where United States (a) naval, (b) army and (c) marine detachments are stationed in the UK.
The United States Visiting Forces are present in the UK at the invitation of HM Government. The majority of US personnel in the UK are drawn from the US Air Force and stationed at RAF bases, but the overall US force composition across its UK footprint is a matter for the US.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work carried out at MOD Bicester; how many of his Department’s personnel are stationed there; and who owns the site.
The Bicester site is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) via the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. There are a number of different units and organisations located in Bicester performing a wide range of tasks and services, and as such there is no overall assessment of the effectiveness of the work carried out at Bicester. If the right hon. Member has an area of particular interest, I would be happy to provide further information. There are currently 183 MOD civilian personnel and 725 trade trained Armed Forces personnel located at MOD Bicester.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 45840 on RAF Lakenheath: Nuclear Weapons, when it first became policy for his Department to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at United States military bases in the United Kingdom.
It has been UK policy for decades to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location.
How much his Department has spent on running costs for RAF (a) Menwith Hill, (b) Lakenheath and (c) Croughton in each of the last three years; and how much of the cost for each year has been reimbursed by the United States.
The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. There is no one identified budget for three sites, the officials would have to go into each individual item of expenditure.
How many US armed forces personnel undertook training courses in Britain in each year since 2020; and in which institution they trained.
The Ministry of Defence offers a very broad range of International Defence Training to our partners. Information regarding the provision of training to the US Armed Forces is therefore spread across a range of sources and providers across Defence. It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
Whether his Department places any restrictions on the number of United States military forces that can be deployed to bases in Britain.
The UK does not place any restrictions regarding the numbers of US military forces in the UK. It is up to the US to determine the number of personnel it stations in the UK at any particular time. However, significant adjustments in the nature or scale of the US footprint would be subject to discussions between the UK and US Governments.
Whether agreements between the United States and United Kingdom on the presence of US military forces in Britain place restrictions on the ability of the US to deploy nuclear weapons in Britain.
The terms, conditions and jurisdiction considerations that govern the US – and any other visiting NATO force permanently based in the UK – are enshrined in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (1951), which is embedded into UK law by the Visiting Forces Act (1952). This is publicly available. It is longstanding UK policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location.
Whether his Department records the UK civilian airports that the US military uses for operational, training or transitory purposes.
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment relating to foreign nations’ military aircraft movement.